Monday, 31 August 2009

Just to let you all in on a little secret - I am learning to type properly by using the right fingers on the correct keys! I am hoping it will save me time and help me with my blogging.

I did learn the basics back in high school and that has been enough to get me by most of the time but I tend to lazy type. Usually I type though mostly looking at the keyboard, then the screen and also using the wrong fingers for the keys. Sound familiar?????? The only drawback this way has been that any typing I do seems to take forever.

I started thinking that I would benefit by online so that I can work at it in my own time. I have just started using the free online typing tutor on Typing Web. It has already made a huge difference! I won't tell you how many words I started out typing, but lets say I am now at typing so much faster and with a far better accuracy than what I began with.LOL So if you would like to improve your typing/keyboard skills with different exercises and tests go and have a look. If you register they will store all your results as you learn and practice so you can see how you improve.

Anyway I am off to practice some more typing exercises........I will be back to show you some more of my latest creations soon.

Friday, 28 August 2009

My not so little baby has recently turned 10. To celebrate her entering into the double digits I made her a BIG card, It is 12" high. When I took DD's photo with her big card it was only then we realised her top was almost identical in colour and design! LOL

The high heel shoes are from a Personal Impressions stamp that was sent to me by the team at Crafts Beautiful. It is actually an iris folding stamp, but I masked out those areas before I stamped it on patterned card. It is heat embossed with black sparkle embossing powder and filled in with holographic silver and turquoise glitter. The shoes are adhered using foam dots.

The ric rac and ribbon on the side I stitched with the sewing machine and sparkle embroidery thread.

The number 10 I cut on my cricut expression cutting machine using the storybook cartridge and then glittered all over. I also cut Birthday Girl for the inside and added some bling! I used a Martha Stewart zig zag border punch on patterned card for the lacy effect down the right side of the card.

I will be looking at fabric and clothing for future ideas for colours and layouts as it was such a big hit! Anyway I would love to hear what you think.

Wednesday, 12 August 2009

I was asked to make a flower girl dress a while back in ivory and sage green. I was given two weeks to make it, brief instructions as to what it was to look like, as well as a bag of satin and lace. The dress needed to look like a mini version of the bridesmaids dresses, but there wasn't a pattern available for a tween girl that was exactly what they were after so I ended up using the Burda 9697 dress pattern and altering it.

The skirt was cut on the bias and it had to be left for a week to hang and allow the satin fabric to drop. Unfortunately due to the quality of the fabric given to me it ended up dropping 3 times after I had hemmed it! Several times I had to arrange fittings with a very patient young girl and her mother and re-sew where it needed it. Next time I will have to make sure that I get more than two weeks notice so I am not madly running around with scissors and a tape measure. LOL

The lace overlay was hand stitched in place around the waist as was the satin bow. I stitched a pendant on the bow that could be removed when the wedding was over so the young girl could have it as a keepsake after the big day when the dress would no longer fit.

Wednesday, 5 August 2009

DH took me to a craft fair over the weekend and they had almost every colour of Flower Soft in stock, including the newly released Polar White! I also found the stunning gum tree leaves and flowers stamp. I instantly fell in love with it and just had to have it as well as a few extra jars of Flower Soft. I have since gone mad stamping and adding flower soft in almost every colour. LOL Can you tell?

Click image to see larger view

The Polar White Flowersoft is very different from all the other colours and even has a little sparkle. It has a different texture, is much softer and stays together a little more. It is perfect for snow! I can't wait to try it on my Christmas cards this year!

The cards are for a swap and the others are toppers that I am in the process of making to add to other cards as they are finished. Once the flower soft glue is dry I add Stickles on the gumnut flowers to look like pollen.

I have heard you can use flowersoft on fabric! I will add that to my technique to try list and let you know how I go.Have you used Flower Soft? What do you think the new Polar White?